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Seditious article: UMNO Youth President Datuk Hishammuddin must direct immediate removal

Media Statement
by Kerk Kim Hock

(Petaling Jaya, Monday):  DAPSY has, on 15.11.2002 ,lodged a police report at the Sea Park Police Station against UMNO Youth Education Bureau Chairman, Dr Adham Baba for his statements calling for the closure of all Chinese primary schools.

Adham Baba's statements have appeared on the UMNO Youth website in a November 13 report titled " Prejudis Melampau Cauvinis Pendidikan Cina, Kerajaan Di Gesa Tutup Semua SJKC ".

It is obvious that Adham Baba has violated the 1948 Sedition Act when he called for the closure of the Chinese primary schools as the 1971 case involving Utusan Melayu has found that it was guilty of sedition for carrying a report with the subheading " Hapuskan Sekolah -Sekolah Beraliran Tamil atau China di Negeri Ini."

Although Adham Baba has clarified in today's China Press that he did not have the intention to call for the closure of the Chinese primary schools, we will leave it to the Police to fully investigate the case since DAPSY has lodged a report.

On 10.10.2002, I had lodged a police report against the UMNO Kelantan Pasir Mas Division Chairman Datuk Ibrahim Ali for making seditious, irresponsible and baseless statements which have hurt the feelings of the Chinese community.

In an article titled " Cina DAP Hasut MCA Jangan Setuju Guna Bahasa Inggeris " that appeared on the UMNO on line, , while commenting on the government; s proposal of teaching Mathematics and Science subjects in English, Ibrahim has made baseless and malicious allegations against the Chinese community and Chinese teachers, which include,

  1. that the Chinese community worry about the proposal because they are afraid that the examination papers of the Chinese students will be marked by Malay teachers
  2. that the Chinese community have objected to the proposal because they are worries that the truth about the declining academic standard of the Chinese students will be exposed
  3. that the Chinese teachers have allowed their students who have actually failed their examinations to pass with excellent results


After my communication with UMNO leaders, the seditious article was finally removed on 20.11.2002.

The 1948 Sedition Act does not only provide for prosecution of an individual who has violated the Act, it also provides that the media or organisation carrying the seditious report to be responsible.

Hence, unless UMNO Youth President Datuk Hisahmmuddin Hussien agrees , supports and endorses Dr Adham Baba's statements and unless UMNO Youth is prepared to assume total responsibility for the seditious statements , Hishammuddin must direct the immediate removal of the seditious article from the UMNO Youth website.
(18/11/2002)

* Kerk Kim Hock, DAP Secretary General and MP for Kota Melaka